Train assistance system and method

ABSTRACT

A train assistance method includes obtaining images captured by at least one time-of-flight camera, each of the captured images includes a distance information indicating a distance between each point of a station platform corresponding to each pixel of the captured image and the corresponding camera . The method then controls one driving device to drive a movable bridge corresponding to one camera towards a station platform to effectively cover a gap.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to train assistance systems and train assistance methods, and particularly, to a train assistance system capable of preventing passengers from stepping into the gap between the train door and the station platform, and a train assistance method employed by such an assistance system.

2. Description of Related Art

A gap is needed between the train and the station platform so that no part of the train will strike or rub the station platform when the train stops at and leaves the station platform. When the station platform is curved, the gap between the train and the station platform will vary due to the curvature of the station platform. Passengers in a hurry or with their minds on other things may not pay attention to the gap between the train and the station platform, and such passengers may fall down the gap or stumbled across the gap. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a new train assistance system to resolve the above problems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The components of the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout several views.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a train assistance device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a train assistance device of the FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a train assistance method in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments of the present disclosure are described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a train assistance device 1 which is applied on a train 2 that can prevent passengers from stepping into the gap between the train 2 and the station platform 3 when the passenger crosses the gap between the train door and the station platform 3. The train assistance device 1 is connected to at least one camera 4, at least one driving device 5, and at least one movable bridge 6, to control the at least one driving device 5 to drive the at least one movable bridge 6 to move, based on the image captured by the at least one camera 4, and to cover the gap between the train 2 and the station platform 3.

Each captured image includes distance information indicating the distance between one camera 4 and any object in the field of view of the camera 4. For example, each captured image includes distance between each point of the station platform 3 represented in the captured image and a corresponding one of the at least one camera 4 that captured the image. In the embodiment, the camera 4 is a time of flight (TOF) camera. Each of the at least one cameras 4 is attached to the exterior of the train 2 below one door and can shoot a vertical wall of the station platform 3 that faces the train 2. In the embodiment, each of the at least one cameras 4 is received in one receiving cavity (not shown) of the train 2. Each of the at least one movable bridges 6 is movably arranged in the train 2, and is above one camera 4 and below one train door. In the beginning, each of the at least one movable bridges 6 is received in one receiving space (not shown) of the train 2. Each of the at least one driving devices 5 is fixed in the train 2, and corresponds to one camera 4 and one movable bridge 6. Each of the at least one driving devices 5 is to drive the movable bridge 6 to move out of the receiving space or move back into the receiving space.

Referring to FIG. 2, the train assistance device 1 includes one processor 10, a storage unit 20, and a train assistance system 30. In the embodiment, the train assistance system 30 includes an image obtaining module 310 and an executing module 320. One or more programs of the above function modules may be stored in the storage unit 20 and executed by the processor 10. In general, the word “module,” as used herein, refers to logic embodied in hardware or firmware, or to a collection of software instructions, written in a programming language. The software instructions in the modules may be embedded in firmware, such as in an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM) device. The modules described herein may be implemented as either software and/or hardware modules and may be stored in any type of computer-readable medium or other storage device.

The image obtaining module 310 is to obtain images captured by the at least one camera 4.

The executing module 320 is to control the at least one driving device 5 to drive the corresponding one of the at least one movable bridge 6 corresponding to the camera 4 that captured the image to move towards the station platform 3. In the embodiment, the movable bridge 6 is driven to move a distance between a point of the station platform 3 represented in the center of the captured image and the corresponding one of the at least one camera 4 that captured the image, to effectively cover the gap between the train 2 and the station platform 3.

In the embodiment, the train assistance device 1 is further connected to one train control system 7. The train control system 7 is to control the opening and closing of the train doors. When the train 2 stops at the station platform 3, the train control system 7 outputs a first signal to a door driving unit (not shown) to open the train doors. When the train 2 leaves the station platform 3, the train control system 7 outputs a second signal to the door driving unit to close the train doors.

The executing module 320 obtains the signals output to the door driving unit by the train control system 7, and to determine whether the obtained signal is a first signal or a second signal. When the obtained signal is a first signal, the executing module 320 controls each of the at least one cameras 4 to shoot images of the vertical wall of the station platform 3.

In the embodiment, when the obtained signal is a second signal, the executing module 320 controls each of the at least one driving device 5 to drive the corresponding one of the at least one movable bridge 6 to pull back from the station platform 3. In the embodiment, the movable bridge 6 is driven to move with a distance between a point of the station platform 3 represented in the center of the captured image and the corresponding one of the at least one camera 4 that captured the image, causing the at least one movable bridge 6 to move back into the body of the train 2, and leaves a gap between the train 2 and the station platform 3.

In the embodiment, when the obtained signal is a second signal, the executing module 320 may further control each of the at least one camera 4 to stop shooting images of the vertical wall of the station platform 3.

Referring to FIG. 3, a flowchart of a method implemented by the train assistance system 30 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is shown.

In step S301, the image obtaining module 310 obtains images captured by the at least one camera 4.

In step S302, the executing module 320 controls the at least one driving device 5 to drive the corresponding movable bridge 6 corresponding to the camera 4 that captured the image to move towards the station platform 3. In the embodiment, the movable bridge 6 is driven to move a distance between a point of the station platform 3 represented in the center of the captured image and the corresponding one of the at least one camera 4 that captured the image.

In the embodiment, the image obtaining module 310 obtains the images of the station platform 3 after the executing module 320 controls the at least one camera 4 to begin shooting images of the vertical wall of the station platform 3.

In detail, the executing module 320 obtains the signal output to the door driving unit by the train control system 7, and further determines whether the obtained signal is a first signal or a second signal. The executing module 320 controls each of the at least one camera 4 to commence shooting images of the vertical wall of the station platform 3 when the obtained signal is the first signal.

In the embodiment, the movement of the movable bridge 6 towards the station platform 3 is performed before the movement of the movable bridge 6 away from the station platform 3.

In detail, when the obtained signal is a second signal, the executing module 320 controls each of the at least one driving device 5 to drive or pull back the corresponding movable bridge 6 away from the station platform 3. In the embodiment, the movable bridge 6 is driven to move a distance between a point of the station platform 3 represented in the center of the captured image and the corresponding one of the at least one camera 4 that captured the image.

In the embodiment, the movement of the movable bridge 6 towards the station platform 3 is performed before the shooting images of the vertical wall of the station platform 3 is discontinued.

In detail, when the obtained signal is a second signal, the executing module 320 controls each of the at least one cameras 4 to discontinue shooting images of the vertical wall of the station platform 3.

Although the present disclosure has been specifically described on the basis of the exemplary embodiment thereof, the disclosure is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various changes or modifications may be made to the embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A train assistance device for a train, comprising: a storage; a processor; one or more programs stored in the storage, executable by the processor, the one or more programs comprising: an image obtaining module operable to obtain images captured by at least one camera, each of the captured images comprising a distance information indicating a distance between a point of a station platform represented in the center of the image and a corresponding one of the at least one camera that captured the image; and an executing module operable to control at least one driving device to drive a corresponding one of the at least one movable bridge corresponding to the camera that captured the image to move towards the station platform by the distance between a point of a station platform represented in the center of the image and a corresponding one of the at least one camera that captured the image, to cover a gap between the train and the station platform.
 2. The train assistance device as described in claim 1, wherein the executing module is further operable to obtain a signal output by a train control system, and further to control the at least one camera to commence shooting images of the vertical wall of the station platform when the obtained signal is a first signal.
 3. The train assistance device as described in claim 1, wherein the executing module is further operable to obtain a signal output by a train control system, and further to control at least one driving device to drive the corresponding one of the at least one movable bridge corresponding to the camera that captured the image away from the station platform by the distance between a point of the station platform represented in the center of the image and a corresponding one of the at least one camera that captured the image when the obtained signal is a second signal.
 4. The train assistance device as described in claim 1, wherein the executing module is further operable to obtain a signal output by a train control system, and further to control the at least one camera to stop shooting images of the vertical wall of the station platform when the obtained signal is a second signal.
 5. A train assistance method comprising: obtaining images captured by at least one camera, each of the captured images comprising a distance information indicating a distance between a point of a station platform represented in the center of the image and a corresponding one of the at least one camera that captured the image; and controlling at least one driving device to drive a corresponding one of the at least one movable bridge corresponding to the camera that captured the image to move toward a station platform by the distance between a point of the station platform represented in the center of the image and a corresponding one of the at least one camera that captured the image, to cover a gap between the train and the station platform.
 6. The train assistance method as described in claim 5, wherein the method further comprises: obtaining a signal output by a train control system, and further controlling the at least one camera to commence shooting images of the vertical wall of the station platform when the obtained signal is a first signal.
 7. The train assistance method as described in claim 5, wherein the method further comprises: obtaining a signal output by a train control system, and further controlling at least one driving device to drive the corresponding one of the at least one movable bridge corresponding to the camera that captured the image away from the station platform by the distance between a point of the station platform represented in the center of the image and a corresponding one of the at least one camera that captured the image when the obtained signal is a second signal.
 8. The train assistance method as described in claim 5, wherein the method further comprises: obtaining a signal output by a train control system, and further controlling the at least one camera to stop shooting images of the vertical wall of the station platform when the obtained signal is a second signal.
 9. A non-transitory storage medium storing a set of instructions, the set of instructions capable of being executed by a processor to perform a train assistance method, the method comprising: obtaining images captured by at least one camera, each of the captured images comprising a distance information indicating a distance between a point of a station platform represented in the center of the image and a corresponding one of the at least one camera that captured the image; and controlling at least one driving device to drive a corresponding one of the at least one movable bridge corresponding to the camera that captured the image to move toward a station platform by the distance between a point of the station platform represented in the center of the image and a corresponding one of the at least one camera that captured the image, to cover a gap between the train and the station platform.
 10. The non-transitory storage medium as described in claim 9, wherein the method further comprises: obtaining a signal output by a train control system, and further controlling the at least one camera to commence shooting images of the lateral of the station platform when the obtained signal is a first signal.
 11. The non-transitory storage medium as described in claim 9, wherein the method further comprises: obtaining a signal output by a train control system, and further controlling at least one driving device to drive the corresponding one of the at least one movable bridge corresponding to the camera that captured the image away from the station platform by the distance between a point of the station platform represented in the center of the image and a corresponding one of the at least one camera that captured the image when the obtained signal is a second signal.
 12. The non-transitory storage medium as described in claim 9, wherein the method further comprises: obtaining a signal output by a train control system, and further controlling the at least one camera to stop shooting images of the vertical wall of the station platform when the obtained signal is a second signal. 